Eagles linebacker Bill Bergey dies at age 79

Bill Bergey (YouTube)

According to Reuben Frank of Yahoo! Sports on Christmas Day, former Cincinnati Bengals and  Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Bill Bergey of South Dayton, New York has passed away at the age of 79. The cause of death was jaw cancer.

Bergey spent five seasons with the Bengals from 1969 to 1973. He then was with the Eagles for seven seasons from 1974 to 1980. Bergey was a middle linebacker for his first eight seasons and then an inside linebacker for the last four seasons.

In 159 games, Bergey had 27 interceptions for 397 yards, 21 fumble recoveries for 18 yards, and 18.5 sacks. He led the National Football League with six fumble recoveries in 1975. Interestingly, that was one season Bergey was not selected to the Pro Bowl. He was honoured while with the Bengals in 1969, and while with the Eagles in 1974, 1976, 1977, and 1978.

Bergey had quite the impact in his rookie season. He was the last American Football League Defensive Rookie of the Year in 1969 before the AFL merged to the NFL. That season Berger had two interceptions for 62 yards.

In 1974, Bergey was the runner up for the NFL Associated Press Defensive Player of the Year voting. He had five interceptions for 57 yards, with 3.5 sacks, and one fumble recovery. The winner of the award in 1974 was Pittsburgh Steelers Hall of Fame defensive tackle Joe Greene of Temple, Texas.

Bergey attended Arkansas State. He was selected in the second round, 31st overall, in the 1969 NFL Draft. Bergey became close friends of Buffalo Bills Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, who also has jaw cancer. Kelly led the Bills to four straight Super Bowls and played a significant part in the rivalry between the Bills and Kansas City Chiefs in the 1990s.